Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin

The final concert of MaerzMusik 2005 will honour one of the most important present-day German composers. On the eve of his 75th birthday, the Deutsche Symphonie Orchester (DSO) conducted by Zsolt Nagy will perform Schnebel’s Sinfonie X. The piece – Schnebel’s principal work – for full orchestra, alto, live electronics and tape recorder was composed in the years 1987-1992 and saw its first performance in Donaueschingen in 1992. Originally, the piece consisted of two sets divided by a compositional pause, offering the opportunity to also perform them separately. The work should be understood as a homage, and partly as a critical assessment of 20th century history. The piano set for instance shows a clear reference to Olivier Messiaen. On the whole, however, Sinfonie X has more to offer than just two tightly constructed sets. In “Environments, Signalen, Klangräumen” (environments, signals, sound spaces), “Zeitstücken” (time pieces) as well as in the musique concrète of the “Stille”- (silence) sections it reveals itself as open in form, as a symphonic model, as a utopia of the “song of the earth”. Upon commission of MaerzMusik, Schnebel has now expanded and completed his Sinfonie with a major third set including extensive choral parts. The performance of the utopian piece will now take about three hours and offer a unique concert experience.